Latest documents http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/index/index/ Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:51:46 +0100 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:51:46 +0100 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/27340 ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Particulate matter (PM) is assumed to exert a major burden on public health. Most studies that address levels of PM use stationary measure systems. By contrast, only few studies measure PM concentrations under mobile conditions to analyze individual exposure situations. METHODS: By combining spatial-temporal analysis with a novel vehicle-mounted sensor system, the present Mobile Air Quality Study (MAQS) aimed to analyse effects of different driving conditions in a convertible vehicle. PM10 was continuously monitored in a convertible car, driven with roof open, roof closed, but windows open, or windows closed. RESULTS: PM10 values inside the car were nearly always higher with open roof than with roof and windows closed, whereas no difference was seen with open or closed windows. During the day PM10 values varied with high values before noon, and occasional high median values or standard deviation values due to individual factors. Vehicle speed in itself did not influence the mean value of PM10; however, at traffic speed (10 -- 50 km/h) the standard deviation was large. No systematic difference was seen between PM10 values in stationary and mobile cars, nor was any PM10 difference observed between driving within or outside an environmental (low emission) zone. CONCLUSIONS: he present study has shown the feasibility of mobile PM analysis in vehicles. Individual exposure of the occupants varies depending on factors like time of day as well as ventilation of the car; other specific factors are clearly identifiably and may relate to specific PM10 sources. This system may be used to monitor individual exposure ranges and provide recommendations for preventive measurements. Although differences in PM10 levels were found under certain ventilation conditions, these differences likely are not of concern for the safety and health of passengers. Stefanie Uibel; Cristian Scutaru; Daniel Mueller; Doris Klingelhoefer; Diana My Linh Hoang; Masaya Takemura; Axel Fischer; Michael Spallek; Volker Unger; David Quarcoo; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/27340 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:51:46 +0100 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25828 BACKGROUND: During the last two decades the German hospital sector has been engaged in a constant process of transformation. One obvious sign of this is the growing amount of hospital privatization. To date, most research studies have focused on the effects of privatization regarding financial outcomes and quality of care, leaving important organizational issues unexplored. Yet little attention has been devoted to the effects of privatization on physicians' working routines. The aim of this observational real-time study is to deliver exact data about physicians' work at hospitals of different ownership. By analysing working hours, further impacts of hospital privatization can be assessed and areas of improvement identified. METHODS: Observations were made by shadowing 100 physicians working in private, for-profit or non-profit as well as public hospital departments individually during whole weekday shifts in urban German settings. A total of 300 days of observations were conducted. All working activities were recorded, accurate to the second, by using a mobile personal computer. RESULTS: Results have shown significant differences in physicians' working activities, depending on hospital ownership, concerning working hours and time spent on direct and indirect patient care. CONCLUSION: This is the first real-time analysis on differences in work activities depending on hospital ownership. The study provides an objective insight into physicians' daily work routines at hospitals of different ownership, with additional information on effects of hospital privatization. Stefanie Mache; Cristian Scutaru; Karin Vitzthum; David Quarcoo; Norman Schöffel; Tobias Welte; Burghard F. Klapp; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25828 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:09:57 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25851 BACKGROUND: Publications related to scoliosis have increased enormously. A differentiation between publications of major and minor importance has become difficult even for experts. Scientometric data on developments and tendencies in scoliosis research has not been available to date. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the scientific efforts of scoliosis research both quantitatively and qualitatively. METHODS: Large-scale data analysis, density-equalizing algorithms and scientometric methods were used to evaluate both the quantity and quality of research achievements of scientists studying scoliosis. Density-equalizing algorithms were applied to data retrieved from ISI-Web. RESULTS: From 1904 to 2007, 8,186 items pertaining to scoliosis were published and included in the database. The studies were published in 76 countries: the USA, the U.K. and Canada being the most productive centers. The Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) was identified as the most prolific institution during that period, and orthopedics represented by far the most productive medical discipline. "BRADFORD, DS" is the most productive author (146 items), and "DANSEREAU, J" is the author with the highest scientific impact (h-index of 27). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that currently established measures of research output (i.e. impact factor, h-index) should be evaluated critically because phenomena, such as self-citation and co-authorship, distort the results and limit the value of the conclusions that may be drawn from these measures. Qualitative statements are just tractable by the comparison of the parameters with respect to multiple linkages. In order to obtain more objective evaluation tools, new measurements need to be developed. Karin Vitzthum; Stefanie Mache; David Quarcoo; Cristian Scutaru; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Norman Schöffel article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25851 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:57:57 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25895 Background: There are several ways to conduct a job task analysis in medical work environments including pencil-paper observations, interviews and questionnaires. However these methods implicate bias problems such as high inter-individual deviations and risks of misjudgement. Computer-based observation helps to reduce these problems. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the development process of a computer-based job task analysis instrument for real-time observations to quantify the job tasks performed by physicians working in different medical settings. In addition reliability and validity data of this instrument will be demonstrated. Methods: This instrument was developed in consequential steps. First, lists comprising tasks performed by physicians in different care settings were classified. Afterwards content validity of task lists was proved. After establishing the final task categories, computer software was programmed and implemented in a mobile personal computer. At least inter-observer reliability was evaluated. Two trained observers recorded simultaneously tasks of the same physician. Results: Content validity of the task lists was confirmed by observations and experienced specialists of each medical area. Development process of the job task analysis instrument was completed successfully. Simultaneous records showed adequate interrater reliability. Conclusion: Initial results of this analysis supported the validity and reliability of this developed method for assessing physicians' working routines as well as organizational context factors. Based on results using this method, possible improvements for health professionals' work organisation can be identified. Stefanie Mache; Cristian Scutaru; Karin Vitzthum; Alexander Gerber; David Quarcoo; Tobias Welte; Torsten T. Bauer; Michael Spallek; Andreas Seidler; Albert Nienhaus; Burghard F. Klapp; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25895 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:21:18 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25353 The current study is the first scientometric analysis of research activity and output in the field of inflammatory disorders of the heart (endo-, myo- and pericarditis). Scientometric methods are used to compare scientific performance on national and on international scale to identify single areas of research interest. Interest and research productivity in inflammatory diseases of the heart have increased since 1990. The majority of publications about inflammatory heart disorders were published in Western Europe and North America. The United States of America had a leading position in terms of research productivity and quality; half of the most productive authors in this study came from American institutions. The analysis of international cooperation revealed research activity in countries that are less established in the field of inflammatory heart disorder research, such as Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. These results indicate that future research of heart inflammation may no longer be influenced predominantly by a small number of countries. Furthermore, this study revealed weaknesses in currently established scientometric parameters (i.e., h-index, impact factor) that limit their suitability as measures of research quality. In this respect, self-citations should be generally excluded from calculations of h-index and impact factor. Norman Schöffel; Karin Vitzthum; Stefanie Mache; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; David Quarcoo article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25353 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:40:25 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25869 BACKGROUND: Diseases associated with smoking are a foremost cause of premature death in the world, both in developed and developing countries. Eliminating smoking can do more to improve health and prolong life than any other measure in the field of preventive medicine. Today's medical students will play a prominent role in future efforts to prevent and control tobacco use. METHODS: A cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous survey of fifth-year medical students in Berlin, Germany was conducted in November 2007. The study explored the prevalence of smoking among medical students. We assessed their current knowledge regarding tobacco dependence and the effectiveness of smoking cessation methods. Students' perceived competence to counsel smokers and promote smoking cessation treatments was also explored. Analyses were based on responses from 258 students (86.6% response rate). RESULTS: One quarter of the medical students surveyed were current smokers. The smoking rate was 22.1% among women, 32.4% among men. Students underestimated smoking-related mortality and the negative effect of smoking on longevity. A considerable number of subjects erroneously assumed that nicotine causes coronary artery disease. Students' overall knowledge of the effectiveness of smoking cessation methods was inadequate. Only one third of the students indicated that they felt qualified to counsel patients about tobacco dependence. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals serious deficiencies in knowledge and counseling skills among medical students in our sample. The curriculum of every medical school should include a tobacco module. Thus, by providing comprehensive training in nicotine dependence interventions to medical students, smokers will have access to the professional expertise they need to quit smoking. Bianca Kusma; David Quarcoo; Karin Vitzthum; Tobias Welte; Stefanie Mache; Andreas Meyer-Falcke; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Tobias Raupach article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25869 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:17:02 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25213 Urban health is potentially affected by particle emissions. The potential toxicity of nanoparticles is heavily debated and there is an enormous global increase in research activity in this field. In this respect, it is commonly accepted that nanoparticles may also be generated in processes occurring while driving vehicles. So far, a variety of studies addressed traffic-related particulate matter emissions, but only few studies focused on potential nanoparticles. Therefore, the present study analyzed the literature with regard to nanoparticles and cars. It can be stated that, to date, only a limited amount of research has been conducted in this area and more studies are needed to 1) address kind and sources of nanoparticles within automobiles and to 2) analyse whether there are health effects caused by these nanoparticles. Stefanie Uibel; Masaya Takemura; Daniel Müller; David Quarcoo; Doris Klingelhöfer; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25213 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:02:46 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25204 BACKGROUND: Professional working at computer notebooks is associated with high requirements on the body posture in the seated position. By the high continuous static muscle stress resulting from this position at notebooks, professionals frequently working at notebooks for long hours are exposed to an increased risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Especially in subjects with back pain, new notebooks should be evaluated with a focus on rehabilitative issues. METHODS: In a field study a new notebook design with adjustable screen was analyzed and compared to standard notebook position. RESULTS: There are highly significant differences in the visual axis of individuals who are seated in the novel notebook position in comparison to the standard position. Also, differences are present between further alternative notebook positions. Testing of gender and glasses did not reveal influences. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that notebooks with adjustable screen may be used to improve the posture. Future studies may focus on patients with musculoskeletal diseases. David Quarcoo; Cristian Scutaru; Ulrich Henkel; Michael Florian Spallek; Stefanie Uibel; Karin Vitzthum; Stefanie Mache; Bianca Kusma; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25204 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:38:57 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22846 Background: Occupational demands of educators are not very well researched. Nevertheless their work is subject to several requirements. Whether these demands have an effect on the work ability and the health status of employees has also not been examined. Furthermore it is unclear if the ownership type of day care centres have an influence on job satisfaction and work ability of the pedagogical staff and what kind of resources do exist. Previous studies were mainly based on questionnaire data. Objective data does not exist. Therefore the aim of this investigation is to collect precise data relating to work of educators. Methods: Effects of different types of ownership of day care centres on job satisfaction and work ability of educators will be assessed with the help of objective real time studies in combination with multi-level psycho diagnostic measurements. Discussion: The present study is the first of its kind. Up to now there are no computer-based real time studies on workflow of pedagogical staff with regard to assess their work-related stress. Following an exhaustive documentation of educators work processes the day-to-day task can be estimated and approaches for prevention can be developed. This can substantially contribute to an overall improvement of child care in Germany. Bianca Kusma; Albert Nienhaus; Michael Florian Spallek; David Quarcoo; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Stefanie Mache article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22846 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:14:06 +0000 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/23624 Background: Due to constantly rising air pollution levels as well as an increasing awareness of the hazardousness of air pollutants, new laws and rules have recently been passed. Although there has been a large amount of research on this topic, bibliometric data is still to be collected. Thus this study provides a scientometric approach to the material published on this subject so far. Methods: For this purpose, data retrieved from the "Web of Science" provided by the Thomson Scientific Institute was analyzed and visualized both with density-equalizing methods and classic data-processing methods such as tables and charts. Results: For the time span between 1955 and 2006, 26,253 items were listed and related to the topic of air pollution, published by 124 countries in 24 different languages. General citation activity has been constantly increasing since the beginning of the examined period. However, beginning with the year 1991, citation levels have been rising exponentially each year, reaching 39,220 citations in the year 2006. The United States, the UK and Germany were the three most productive countries in the area, with English and German ranked first and second in publishing languages, followed by French. An article published by Dockery, Pope, Xu et al. was both the most cited in total numbers and in average citation rate. J. Schwartz was able to claim the highest total number of citations on his publications, while D.W. Dockery has the highest citation rate per publication. As to the subject areas the items are assigned with, the most item were published in Environmental Sciences, followed by Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences and Public, Environmental & Occupational Health. Nine out of the ten publishing journals with more than 300 entries dealt with environmental interests and one dealt with epidemiology. Conclusions: Using the method of density-equalizing mapping and further common data processing procedures, it can be concluded that scientific work concerning air pollution and related topics enjoys unbrokenly growing scientific interest. This can be observed both in publication numbers and in citation activity. Hanna Zell; David Quarcoo; Cristian Scutaru; Karin Vitzthum; Stefanie Uibel; Norman Schöffel; Stefanie Mache; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Michael Florian Spallek article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/23624 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:04:02 +0000 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22837 Background: Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease that is found in various countries of the world. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of leishmaniasis on the world's research output. The present study assessed benchmarking of research output for the period between 1957 and 2006. Using large database analyses, research in the field of leishmaniasis was evaluated. Furthermore, cooperation between different countries was identified. Results: The number of publications increased with time. Most publications came from Western countries such as the US, UK or Germany. Interestingly, countries like Brazil and India had a high research output. We found a substantial amount of cooperation between countries. Conclusion: Although leishmaniasis is of limited geographic distribution it attracts a wide research interest. The central hub of research cooperation is the USA. Khaled Al-Mutawakel; Cristian Scutaru; Awfa Shami; Mohannad Sakr; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; David Quarcoo article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22837 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:50:00 +0000 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22686 Purpose: The use of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine has generated much debate concerning safety issues among the general population and physicians. Therefore, we investigated the safety of an inactivated monovalent H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine Methods: We focused on the H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine Pandemrix(R) and applied a self reporting questionnaire in a population of healthcare workers (HCWs) and medical students at a major university hospital. Results: In total, 4337 individuals were vaccinated, consisting of 3808 HCWs and 529 medical students. The vaccination rate of the employees was higher than 40%.The majority of individuals were vaccinated in November 2009. In total, 291 of the 4337 vaccinations were reported to lead to one or more adverse reactions (6.7%). Local reactions were reported in 3.8%, myalgia and arthralgia in 3.7%, fatigue in 3.7%, headache in 3.1%. Conclusions: Our data together with available data from several national and international institutions points to a safe pandemic influenza vaccine. Harald Bias; David Quarcoo; Claus Meier-Wronski; Sabine Wicker; Joachim Eberhardt Seybold; Albert Nienhaus; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Andrés de Roux article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22686 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:34:09 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22830 Background: Working conditions of nursery school teachers have not been scrutinized thoroughly in scientific research. Only a few studies have so far examined work-load and strain in this profession. Preferably, subjective perceptions should be corroborated by data that can be quantified more objectively and accurately. The aim of the present observational field study was to evaluate pedagogical staffs' workflow. Methods: In 2009 eleven educators in a day care centre were observed throughout three complete workdays. A total of 250 working hours were recorded. Results: An educators' workday lasted on average 07:46:59 h (SD = 01:01:10 h).Within this time span, an average of 02:20:46 h (30.14%, SD = 00:28:07 h) were spent on caring, 01:44:18 h on playing (22.33%, SD = 00:54:12 h), 00:49:37 h on educational work (10.62%, SD = 00:40:09), and only 00:05:38 h on individual child contact (1.21%, SD = 00:04:58 h). Conclusion: For the first time, educators' workflow in day care centres was studied in real time. Some of the educators' self-reported problems were corroborated. The results of this study form a basis upon which further investigations can be built and measures can be developed for an overall improvement of child care. Bianca Kusma; Stefanie Mache; David Quarcoo; Albert Nienhaus; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22830 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/7760 Due to an increasing awareness of the potential hazardousness of air pollutants, new laws, rules and guidelines have recently been implemented globally. In this respect, numerous studies have addressed traffic-related exposure to particulate matter using stationary technology so far. By contrast, only few studies used the advanced technology of mobile exposure analysis. The Mobile Air Quality Study (MAQS) addresses the issue of air pollutant exposure by combining advanced high-granularity spatial-temporal analysis with vehicle-mounted, person-mounted and roadside sensors. The MAQS-platform will be used by international collaborators in order 1) to assess air pollutant exposure in relation to road structure, 2) to assess air pollutant exposure in relation to traffic density, 3) to assess air pollutant exposure in relation to weather conditions, 4) to compare exposure within vehicles between front and back seat (children) positions, and 5) to evaluate "traffic zone"- exposure in relation to non-"traffic zone"-exposure. Primarily, the MAQS-platform will focus on particulate matter. With the establishment of advanced mobile analysis tools, it is planed to extend the analysis to other pollutants including including NO2, SO2, nanoparticles, and ozone. Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Cristian Scutaru; Mathias Lauks; Masaya Takemura; Tanja Christina Fischer; Silvana Kölzow; Anke van Mark; Stefanie Uibel; Ulrich Wagner; Karin Vitzthum; Fabian Beck; Stefanie Mache; Carolin Kreiter; Bianca Kusma; Annika Friedebold; Hanna Zell; Alexander Gerber; Johanna Bock; Khaled Al-Mutawakl; Johannnes Donat; Maria Victoria Geier; Carolin Pilzner; Pia Welker; Ricarda Joachim; Harald Bias; Michael Götting; Mohannad Sakr; Johann P. Addicks; Julia-Annik Börger; Anna-Maria Jensen; Sonja Grajewski; Awfa Shami; Niko Neye; Stefan Kröger; Sarah Hoffmann; Lisa Kloss; Sebastian Mayer; Clemens Puk; Ulrich Henkel; Robert Rospino; Ute Schilling; Evelyn Krieger; Gesa Westphal; Andreas Meyer-Falcke; Hagen Hupperts; Andrés de Roux; Salome Tropp; Marco Weiland; Janette Mühlbach; Johannes Steinberg; Anne Szerwinski; Sepiede Falahkohan; Claudia Sudik; Anna Bircks; Oliver Noga; Nicolas Dickgreber; Quoc-Thai Dinh; Heiko Golpon; Beatrix Kloft; Rafael Neill B. Groneberg; Christian Witt; Sabine Wicker; Li Zhang; Jochen Springer; Birgitta Kütting; Ervin C. Mingomataj; Axel Fischer; Norman Schöffel; Volker Unger; David Quarcoo article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/7760 Tue, 18 May 2010 13:49:57 +0200